Illinois youth may apply for spring turkey hunting

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Young people who have passed a hunter safety course may begin applying to hunt wild turkeys on private land across Illinois next spring.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says it's now accepting applications from youth under age 16 to hunt on a private Illinois Recreational Access Program site. There are private sites in 25 Illinois counties.

Successful applicants will be notified of where their hunting site is located and given a permit to hunt on the specified property.

The youth turkey hunting season begins in late March 2014. The deadline to apply for the season is Feb. 25.

The Illinois Recreational Access Program has leased more than 11,000 acres for activities such as turkey hunting, fishing, birding and outdoor photography.

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